SULADS STORIES

IN LIEU OF A GRAVE YARD

By Joubert Falcuntin

Dapilo-an Mission School

June, 2000

Spiritism is a common practice among the Manobos.  In Dapilo-an Mission School, this practice is still existing.  A death of a member of a Manobo family is believed to be caused by some bad spirits.  I witnessed one of the rituals one day when an aged father became ill.  We were summoned for help.  We rushed to examine the patient.  We found out that he was suffering from tetanus.  Knowing that we could no longer do anything, I decided to go down to Kalagangan, a 12 kilometer hike through rivers and mountains, to seek medical assistance.  I was discouraged that the Barangay Health Worker was not there.  I bought some supplies and hurried back.

As I was approaching the village, a lady asked me to hurry because the patient, Loreto, was already chilling and dying.  I rushed to the patient’s house.  He was gasping for air.  I prayed for God’s help with my partner, Phrody Dalguntas.  I carefully applied CPR and massaged his semi-paralyzed body.  Thank God, he recovered.  I know God was with us at that moment. 

“God,” I whispered in prayer again, “Please spare him.”  This man was the first one to ask for Bible studies and how he is ready for baptism. Satan is trying his best to not let go of this man.  He was one of the most active supporters of the SULADS program in the village.  He attended two of the SULADS Jamborees and it was during these events that he heard more of the gospel and saw the change in many of the Manobo’s lives.  He loved the sermons and the Sabbath worship.  When we returned back to Dapilo-an Mission School, he decided to have Bible studies with me and later on decided to be baptized.  He was supposed to be the first candidate for baptism but he became a sacrifice so that more people will be reached. 

 

The story goes like this.  One Sabbath afternoon about two weeks later, the people were gathered in the house of Loreto.  The witch doctor did some rituals and the old folks chanted unfamiliar words that I don’t understand. 

The quack doctor offered a pig as a sacrifice and sprinkled blood on the face of Loreto.  Blood was mixed also with betlenut and he let the patient chew it.  During that ritual, I felt the presence of a different spirit working within them.  I held my Bible firmly on my chest and silently prayed, “Lord, please stand by me amidst these evils and thy will be done for brother Loreto.”

After the patient chewed the betlenut with blood in it, his body got numb and he became comatose.  That night the patient died.   The people were sad.  They blamed themselves, the quack doctor, as well as their old folks for the death of Loreto.  They thanked us for trying to help them.

 

The battle was over and it seemed that the enemy won.  I know, however, that the Lord will not let His work be trodden by His enemy.  I thought that was the end of it all, but the Lord knows more than I do.  After that incident, the village people became hungry for the gospel.  They asked for Bible studies and as a result, a group of forty-six were baptized. 

 

The place where Loreto died was the place chosen for the church building.  God is in control and He knows what is best for His work.  Praise God for a successful work in Dapilo-an.  Recently seven more souls were added to the fold.  Now in lieu of the graveyard of Loreto, a church stands.